SLC, top SL players at loggerheads over central contract

Sri Lankan cricket was embroiled in more turmoil as the board Sri Lanka Cricket(SLC) sent out a message to the selectors advising them not to include any player who is yet to sign a central contract for the home series against Bangladesh. As many as 23 top players, including the likes of former skipper, Kumar Sangakkara, Test skipper Angelo Mathews and T20I captain Dinesh Chandimal, may miss out on being selected for the series which starts on Friday.

The SLC is said to have held a number of meetings with the players but none of them helped resolve the matter.

Nishantha Ranatunga, secretary of the SLC, confirmed that only players who have signed the contracts will be eligible to play for the National team.

"We can only select players who have contracts with SLC," Ranatunga was quoted as saying by Daily Mirror.

"If the players who had been offered contracts refuse to sign it on time, then we will have to take a serious decision. We might be forced to select some other players for the Bangladesh tour."

"SLC Ex-Co has taken an official decision not to recognise the Cricketers' Association. We have no business with the officials of a purported Association because we deal directly with players," Ranatunga said.

The players are said to have raised objection over the adding of new clauses to their contract. The main problem with the players is said to be the inclusion of a clause which has a no-pay agreement with players who have a contract with Indian Premier League(IPL) franchisees. The BCCI had earlier refused permission for its players to play in the Sri Lanka Premier League(SLPL) and the players feel that it could be a way of trying to get back at the Indian Board. The SLC has not included any other domestic competition, save for the IPL, in their clause.

The is not the first time the Board and the players have been at loggerheads over the issue. The issue had first popped up in July 2012, with then skipper, Mahela Jayawardene threatening that his players will not take part in the SLPL of the issue was not settled.